It has been a long time coming, but Declan Kidney was confirmed yesterday in the job he has long coveted, that of Ireland head coach. His appointment, until at least the World Cup of 2011, comes with a caveat, however. His immediate commitment to Munster and their quest for a second Heineken Cup will prevent him from taking charge of the Ireland team for the tour to New Zealand and Australia this summer.

It is a situation that is not ideal, but one that the IRFU - given its preference for a home-grown candidate - is happy to accommodate. Kidney was the preferred choice, even if Pat Howard, the former Leicester coach, and Jake White, who guided South Africa to their World Cup triumph last year, had expressed interest in the role. Kidney's record as a coach with Munster, in particular, and his successful involvement with Ireland age-group sides were factors in his favour.

A quiet, thoughtful man, Kidney, 48, will no doubt afford himself a smile, given that his previous relationship with Ireland under Eddie O'Sullivan, the head coach, ended sourly. Kidney was O'Sullivan's assistant from 2002-04, but the two were never close. Now, though, Kidney finds himself succeeding O'Sullivan, who resigned last month in the wake of a disappointing RBS Six Nations Championship and a calamitous World Cup.

Ireland will appoint an interim coaching and management team for the three-international summer tour. Kidney will have no input into selection and play no part in preparations for the tour, which include a match against the Barbarians at Kingsholm. Michael Bradley, the Ireland A coach, is likely to be in charge for the summer.

Kidney's sole focus until May 24 will be preparing Munster for their fourth Heineken Cup final. He has been in charge on each of the previous occasions, the defeats in 2000 and 2002, and the victory in 2006. In between times, Kidney took in the 2003 World Cup with Ireland and enjoyed a sojourn with Leinster in 2005.

“There is no greater honour for any coach than to lead his own country,” Kidney said. “I have had that privilege at several levels of the game in Ireland from schools and under-19s as well as working with the senior Ireland team and I am delighted to have this opportunity and to be here at what is the pinnacle of my career.”

Philip Browne, the IRFU chief executive, said that Kidney had always been at the top of its list. “His record speaks for itself,” Browne said. “While the need to make the appointment as soon as was practicable was important, the IRFU was conscious of keeping any disruption to the preparations of the Munster team to a minimum.”

Apart from leading Munster to victory in the Heineken Cup in 2006 against Biarritz, the other highlights of his career include coaching Ireland Under-19 to success in the junior World Cup in 1998. Brian O'Driscoll, Donncha O'Callaghan and Paddy Wallace were members of that side.

Kidney will have to move quickly to revive Irish fortunes. Two years ago they were ranked No2 in the world, now they are No8, and there is little time to improve that position by the end of the year, when seedings for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand are finalised. This autumn Ireland play the All Blacks and Argentina.

Scotland squad (for tour to Argentina): Backs: C Paterson (Gloucester), H Southwell (Edinburgh), S Danielli (Ulster), T Evans (Glasgow), B Cairns (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow), A Henderson (Glasgow), N De Luca (Edinburgh), D Parks (Glasgow), P Godman (Edinburgh), R Lawson (Gloucester), M Blair (Edinburgh, captain). Two to be announced. Forwards: A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Ford (Edinburgh), D Hall (Glasgow), E Murray (Northampton), M Low (Glasgow), S MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), D Callam (Edinburgh), J Beattie (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), K Brown (Glasgow), A Hogg (Edinburgh), A Strokosch (Gloucester). Three to be announced.